by Pamela Hailey-Petty | Sep 20, 2016 | Estate Planning
It’s smart to have a life insurance policy to help your family in the event that you pass away suddenly. It can help keep your family in your home and pay for college tuition. One aspect of life insurance that folks don’t think about is the fact that the proceeds from...
by Pamela Hailey-Petty | Jul 26, 2016 | Uncategorized
Doesn’t that sound great! Every year there are thousands of Texans that decide to start their own businesses. Some have an easier time than others. Here are some things to keep in mind to help you as you set out: When you start your own business, there are several...
by Pamela Hailey-Petty | Sep 4, 2015 | Estate Planning, Wills
Kids in Austin and throughout Texas are heading back to school. While many parents welcome a vacation from the summer vacation, preparing for the first day of school each year takes significant effort, time, and resources. Parents must make sure that they provide all...
by Pamela Hailey-Petty | Aug 23, 2015 | Estate Planning, Wealth and Estates, Wills
There are a lot of myths floating out there about wills, trusts, and probate. By the way, what IS probate? Read on to learn more. #1. I don’t need a will. I am married, and my spouse automatically gets everything. This is not necessarily true. As a resident of Texas,...
by Pamela Hailey-Petty | Jul 17, 2015 | Estate Planning for Same Sex Couples
The recent U.S. Supreme Court decision on same sex marriage has generated a great deal of discussion about the subject. Questions have been asked such as: “What constitutes a marriage?” “What makes a marriage legal?” and “I thought we were already married?” Some...
by Pamela Hailey-Petty | Jun 25, 2015 | Wills
Sorting out the late Robin Williams’ estate is proving to be difficult for members of the beloved comedian’s family. His widow Susan Schneider Williams and his children from two previous marriages are at a disagreement regarding specific terms in the trust...
by Pamela Hailey-Petty | Jun 12, 2015 | Wills
Melvin Dummar was at the center of a story about a contested will. This story was played out on the front pages of newspapers all over the country, in 1976. In this story, the decedent was Howard Hughes – a flamboyant, mega-rich, eccentric icon of American...
by Pamela Hailey-Petty | May 25, 2015 | Wealth and Estates
The 2013 book “Empty Mansions: The Mysterious Life of Huguette Clark and the Spending of a Great American Fortune,” was a #1 New York Times bestseller in the fall of 2013. It is the story of a young heiress to an copper mining fortune, her life, and her...
by Pamela Hailey-Petty | May 15, 2015 | Estate Planning
Are you prepared if the unthinkable happens to your spouse? Charlotte Fox, author of “And Then There Was One: A Comprehensive Workbook Guide for End-Of Life Preparedness and Transitioning After the Loss of a Loved One” was not. When her husband died unexpectedly at...
by Pamela Hailey-Petty | Apr 27, 2015 | Estate Planning for Same Sex Couples
Until the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rules that Texas’ same sex marriage ban is unconstitutional, same sex couples living in the Lone Star state are left in legal limbo. Even couples married in another state or country are not protected under Texas law like...
